Thanks to vigorous campaigning from Abercrombie & Fitch, Timberland and American Eagle, Australian wool farmers have signed a groundbreaking agreement with PETA to phase out "mulesing" mutilations of lambs and cruelty in the live export of sheep raised for wool.

The agreement comes almost a year after PETA announced a boycott of Australian wool last October and engaged Abercrombie & Fitch and Limited Brands in efforts to stop these two major abuses. Abercrombie & Fitch was the first company to agree not to use Australian wool, leading the way for other retailers. Both Abercrombie & Fitch and Limited Brands played a huge role in this historic agreement by pledging not to use Australian wool until mulesing and live exports end. PETA has announced a 45-day moratorium on its campaign to give other wool-industry groups time to review and sign onto the accord.

Mulesing is a painful mutilation in which Australian farmers use gardening shears to slice chunks of skin from lambs' backsides in a crude attempt to reduce maggot infestation. "With Abercrombie & Fitch and Limited Brands' help, we showed the Australian wool industry that what's good for lambs' bottoms is also good for the bottom line," says PETA Campaign Coordinator Matt Rice. "Ethical companies are to be commended for helping us persuade the Australian wool industry to make long-overdue reforms."